James Milner has shrugged off fears Villa’s gruelling season could catch up with him ahead of next month’s European Under-21 Championship.

Winger Milner may have only a week’s break should Stuart Pearce’s side reach the final in Sweden on June 29 before Martin O’Neill’s team report back for pre-season training.

O’Neill admitted towards the end of the current campaign he feared Milner and under-21 team-mate Gabby Agbonlahor could suffer from burn-out after operating with one of the smallest squads in the Premier League.

But Milner aims to use the tournament as a springboard to Fabio Capello’s senior squad for the World Cup finals in South Africa next year.

Milner said: “Do I fear burn-out? I’m sure the manager will look after us. You need a rest. I’ve got five days before we join up with England. Then, if we reach the final, I’ve got another week.

“But it’s an honour to play for your country and it’s great to be going out there to Sweden to play with the best young players in Europe.

“Getting that experience is priceless. If you look at teams winning the World Cup and European Championships, so many of the squad have played in the Under-21 tournaments.

“It’s getting that experience and a winning mentality that helps. If we can win with the Under-21s, it stands us in good stead in the future as England players.

“Hopefully there will be a chunk of players who have been to a major international tournament and won it and that’s massive. If you can then take that into senior tournaments, then you have better chance of winning those.”

Milner – who is joined in the Under-21 squad by club-mates Gabby Agbonlahor and Craig Gardner – is also confident Villa will learn from their experiences of the past season when a late fade-out denied them a Champions League spot.

He said: “It is about how you learn from these runs. We know we should have done better but it is about what you take from such poor runs and how you bounce back. Hopefully if we are in the same position next year, we can see it through and go one or two places better.”